Oh, it was hot this week!
But as always the dome of the
Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum looked cool.
So glad it has cooled off before Shabbat,
wishing all
שבת שלום
Shabbat Shalom.
Israel Museum
Israel Museum Big Birthday Bash
Offering free admission at one of Jerusalem’s favorite sites,
The Israel Museum’s 50th birthday party
attracted thousands of people.
Special cupcakes
and colorful drinks were provided for visitors.
The children’s wing and new play area were filled with children.
Actors entertained in the passageways.
Not new statutes,
but men were dressed in black and moving
slowly around entertaining the young crowd.
I was impressed with these two girls
who were entertaining themselves,
using their paper art project to test the water currents
in the flowing waterfall near the steps.
Future scientists? For sure!
What is a big birthday party without lots of balloons?
Former President Shimon Peres was at the opening of the museum
exactly 50 years earlier.
Museum Director James Snyder presented him with his old photo,
as the crowd tried to get a view of the official ceremony.
This heart by Jeff Koons which is on loan to the Israel Museum
for its 50th birthday year took a little help to unveil.
But the huge birthday cake with edible art works on top,
took only minutes to disappear,
and those who got cake and balloons left smiling.
Teddy Kollek had a vision as mayor of Jerusalem, Israel,
and in 50 years the Israel Museum has matured.
Happy Birthday
and many more great years.
14 Favorite Hanukkah Lights
Hanukkah in Jerusalem, Israel, can be exhausting!
Candle lighting ceremonies seem to be everywhere,
with people arriving from all over the world.
On the first night of Hanukkah,
at the Kotel, Western Wall, at its large chanukiah,
after a lighting ceremony with dignitaries,
a man was covered in a white talit for the filming of a video.
Chanukiot in Jerusalem restaurants are always a favorite.
First night, first light in the Old City, this was most unusual,
while simple can be beautiful.
This large electric-light covered chanukiah was near Jaffa Gate,
and this fire-lit one in Mamilla Mall
that attracted a crowd below.
The display of chanukiot in the Waldorf-Astoria lobby was new this year.
Candles were burning in the security booth outside the US consulate,
though I received permission to take this photo,
afterwards I was stopped by an over-anxious guard.
Thankfully, he did not try to delete my photos.
A Chabad Chanukiah can be found on many corners,
but the one near Paris Fountain is a favorite.
The holiday party for the international press
given by the Prime Minister was held at the Israel Museum this year.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu lit this 19th century brass chanukiah
which had been used in a synagogue in Central Europe.
Not as large as this one,
but also part of the Israel Museum’s extensive collection of chanukiot,
some centuries old and from around the world.
Though not a menorah
the lights in their eyes are certainly bright.
This photo of Natan and Avital Sharansky
with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir
as they leave Ben Gurion airport after arriving in Israel
finally free from Soviet prison,
is one of many in a new Israel Museum photography exhibit.
And from our source of the sukkah on a camel,
a menorah of ice.
It was coming along, but sorry, it was a long day and busy week.
I did not stay to see what happened when it was lit.
no matter how you spell it,
a great miracle happened here,
eight days to celebrate,
as those suffganiot keep coming..in so many colors and tastes.
Happy Hannukah!